Separating apparatus



April 1945- c. B. SCHNEIBLE EI'AL 2,374,238

SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1942 Patented Apr. 24, 1945 SEPARATING APPARATUS Claude B. Schneible, Detroit, Mich and Clarence C. Hermann, Maywood, 111.; said Hermann asslgnor to said Schneible Application April 13, 1942, Serial No. 438.694

Claims.

This invention relates to separating apparatus. It is particularly useful in the separating of foreign or solid particles carried in a gaseous medium. The apparatus may be used for eliminating solid particles carried in heated gases from blast furnaces, cupolas, cement furnaces, and particle-laden air from many other structures. Other specific uses will be obvious.

An object of th invention is to provide apparatus which will effectively eliminate solid or foreign particles carried in a medium, the medium being withdrawn free of such particles. A further object is to provide apparatus in which a separator element is provided with improved means whereby foreign or solid particles will be rejected and freed from a withdrawn stream of medium. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing. in which- Figure l is a broken rear view in elevation of the filter fan or refuser wheel; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view of the filter fan or refuser wheel shown in conjunction with apparatus which may be associated therewith.

In the illustration given, A designate a casing providing an outlet A; B, a driven shaft; and C, a. filter fan.

The casing A may be of any suitable construction. It may, if desired, provide a chamber about the fan C into which particle-laden gas is drawn. It may also provide a fan casing It] in which a suction fan I I or other suitable means for creating a suction is secured. The shaft B may be supported so as to rotate the filter fan C within the casing A and so as to guard the opening A.

The filter fan C, constituting our invention herein, comprises a hub portion 12, to the outer end of which is secured a shroud plate l3. Spaced inwardly from the plate l3 are annular plates l4, l5 and IS. The plate I4 has an inside diameter less than that of plate l5, and plate l5 has an inside diameter less than that of plate I6. Between plates l3 and I4 are a plurality of spaced vanes l1. Between plates l4 and i5 are vanes 18 which are shorter and narrower than vanes l1. Between plates l5 and iii are vanes l9 which are shorter and narrower in width than vanes l8.

It will be noted that with the structure shown, the interior of the filter fan is hollow, the opening therein tapering rearwardly toward the outlet A', thus providing an outlet which enlarges as it nears the outlet A. The vanes I1, I8 and i9 extending between the plates l3, l4, l5 and I6 provide a series of radial cells spaced longitudinally of the fan. The cells provided by vanes 11 with their associated plates are longer and wider than the cells provided by vanes l8 and their associated plates, while the cells provided by vanes IS with their associated plates are still smaller than the cells described.

Brace rod 20 are secured, as shown, to the hub portion l2 and to the outer plate I8, as shown best in Fig. 1.

In the illustration given, louver plates are employed in conjunction with each of the vanes l1, l8 and H to provide passages of substantially uniform cross section throughout. A divider plate 2| joins the inner end portion of each vane l1, thus forming a V-shaped chamber 22 which is closed except as to its outer periphery. The di-' vider or louver plate 2|, however, forms with the adiacent vane I! a radial passage 23 of uniform cross section throughout.

A louver or divider plate 2-l'ioins the base of each vane I8 so as to form therewith a V-shaped chamber 25. With the adjacent vane l8, it forms a channel 26 of uniform cross section throughout. Similarly, a short louver plate 21 joins the inner end portion of each vane l9, forming therewith a V-shaped dead air chamber 28, and also forming with the other adjacent vane IS a radial passage uniform in cross section.

In the event that solid particles may find their way between the vanes of the filter fan or refuserwheel, each of the divider or louver plates 2|, 24 and 21 are provided with outwardly-struck deflectors or louvers 29, and adjacent the louvers are outlet openings 30 leading from the passage or channel of uniform cross section into the dead air chamber into which the deflectors 29 extend. The chambers 22, 25 and 28 are referred to as dead air chambers since there is no regular flow of air therethrough. With the wheel or fan rotating in a clockwise direction, as shown in Pig. 1, the solid particles will be led through the openings 30 in the louver plates 2|, 24 and 21 and discharged into the dead air chambers from which they will be eliminated by centrifugal force. The deflectors or louvers 29 prevent the particles from being brought back into the passages of uniform cross section.

Extending from the hollow shaft B andcommunicating with the liquid channel therein, a plurality of small liquid pipes 3| extend forwardly and open into the dead air chamber 22. If desired, the pipes 3| may be shortened so as to deliver a liquid spray into the central chamber of the fan.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the gaseous medium containing solids is drawn toward outlet A by the suction created through the rotation of fan It or by any other suitable source of suction. The rotation of the filter fan C rejects solid particles or heavier material in the gas stream and allows only the medium substantially freed of the particles or heavier material to pass through outlet A.

Since the hub l2 and the shroud plate I3 close the front face of the fan and since the fan is arranged in substantially sealing relation to the outlet A, it is necessary for the medium passing into outlet A to travel through the rectangular cells or passages provided in the filter fan. The filter fan C is extremely efiicient in operation because of the longitudinally-disposed cells formed by the vanes extending between the annular plates. Since the air must pass through the rectangular cells thus formed, a variable drop in pressure would be sustained if the cells were all of the same width as a result of the difference in their length. This difference in pressure drop, due to the different lengths of the rectangular openings, is overcome by increasing the width of the openings in proportion to their length, as shown more clearly in Fig.

In the event that solid particles are carried in the rectangular cells or ducts formed in the filter fan, the louver plates are utilized with their openings 30 and louvers 29 as a means for eliminating such particles. By means of centrifugal force, the particles are thrown through openings 30 into the dead air chambers formed with the adjacent vane, and finally are thrown out of the dead air chambers off the back edge of the blades or vanes l1, l8 and I9.

By passing a liquid from the hollow channel of the shaft through pipe 3| into the dead air chambers or a portion of them, the collected particles within the dead air chambers are quickly and thoroughly eliminated. If desired, the liquid may be sprayed from the hollow shaft directly into the main chamber of the filter fan, and the droplets may then be carried into the dead air chambers through the openings 30.

The centrifugal separator wheel is extremely efficient in the elimination of solid or foreign particles, the great proportion of the solid particles being rejected at the point of entrance of the medium to the wheel; and if the particles succeed in entering the wheel, the louver or divider plates are utilized for eliminating the same by means of the deflectors and dead air chambers.

While in the foregoing description, we have set forth certain details of structure for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that all of the details are not essential and that the same may be eliminated or substitutions employed therefor without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In combination with a centrifugal separator wheel adapted to be rotated by a shaft and, comprising end plates closing the forward end of said wheel, annular plates spaced rearwardly from said end plate and from each other, circumferentially spaced vanes extending transversely between said plates to form radial cells therebetween, louver plates engaging said vanes at their inner ends to form therewith relatively quiescent air chambers, openings through said louver plates, and means for conveying a liquid to at least some of said dead air chambers, means for guiding a as from the inner ends of said cells to an outlet passage, and means for drawing the gas radially inwardly through said wheel and through said guide means to said outlet passage.

2. In combination with a centrifugal separator wheel adapted to be rotated by a shaft and, comprising end plates closing the forward end of said wheel, annular plates spaced rearwardly from said end plate and from each other, circumferentially spaced vanes extending transversely between said plates to form radial cells therebetween, louver plates engaging said vanes at their inner ends to form therewith relatively quiescent air chambers, openings through said louver plates, and means for spraying liquid into the interior of said wheel, means for guiding a gas from the inner ends of said cells to an outlet passage, and means for drawing the gas radially inwardly through said wheel and through said guide means to said outlet passage.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation, a separator wheel fixed thereon and comprising end plate members closing the forward end of said wheel, annular plates spaced rearwardly from said end plate and from each other, circumferentially spaced vanes extending transversely between said plates to form radial cells therebetween, louver plates engaging said vanes at their inner ends to form therewith relatively quiescent air chambers, openings through said louver plates, conduits between said hollow shaft and certain of said air chambers for introducing a liquid into said chambers, means for guiding a gas from the inner ends of said cells to an outlet passage, and suction means for drawing the gas radially inwardly through said wheel and through said guide means to said outlet passage.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation, a separator wheel fixed thereon and comprising end plate members closing the forward end of said wheel, annular plates spaced rearwardly from said end plate and from each other, said annular plates being of equal outside diameters but of varying inside diameters, circumferentially spaced vanes extending transversely between said plates to form radial cells therebetween, louver plates engaging said vanes at their inner ends to form therewith relatively quiescent air chambers and having openings through said plates, conduit means establishing communication between said hollow shaft and the interior of said wheel for introducing a liquid into the interior of said wheel, a housing at the rear end of said wheel for guiding a gas from the inner radial ends of said cells to an outlet passage, and suction means for drawing the gas radially inwardly through said wheel and through said housing to said outlet passage.

5. In combination with a centrifugal separator wheel adapted to be rotated by a shaft, comprising a front plate member closing the forward end of said wheel, spaced annular plates parallel with said end plate, said annular plates having inside diameters which increase as the plates are spaced rearwardly of said end plate, circumferentially spaced vanes extending transversely between said plates to form radial cells therebetween, and divider plates associated with said vanes for forming relatively quiescent air chambers, said divider plates having openings therein and deflectors extending rearwardly into said dead air chambers, means for guiding a gas from the inner radial ends of said cells to an outlet passage at the rear end of said wheel, and suction means for drawing the gas radially inwardly through said wheel and through said guide means to said outlet passage.

CLAUDE B. SCHNEIBLE. CLARENCE C. HERMANN. 

